PRODUCE NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7979, 9 December 1911, Page 6

PRODUCE NOTES

FROII OCT. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. LONDON, October 27. WOOL.

Since the close of the London sales there has been considerable inquiry privately and a fair quantity—both merino and crossbred—has changed hands at firm prices. On the other hand a dull tone has prevailed in the manufacturing districts, and values for tops have receded, very low prices it. is reported having in some instances been accepted for forward delivery. At the same time consumption continues upon a large scale, end any further downward movement does not seem warranted, though, as is customary at this season of the year, there is a strong desire in somequarters to depress prices here with a view -to establishing a lower level of values in the Australasian markets. GRAIN. There has been a fair demand for wheat during the period under review, and prices have advanced 6d to Is per quarter, largely owing to reports of poor crop prospects in Australia. - The future of the market now depends a good deal upon the Argentine crop prospects, and these are at the moment very good. In Australasian, for arrival, a fair business has been done, the latest sales being an Australasian sailer cargo, JannaryFebruary bill of lading, at 36s 7d per iSOlbs c.i.f. A good trade has been passing in oats, particularly for the common descriptions for shipment. Beans are in good demand, and prices mark an advance of about 6d per 5041 be. Current values:—Australian wheat, 37s 6d to 38s per 4961b5; New Zealand wheat, long berried, 35s 6d to Sfis: New Zealand shortborried, 35s to 35s 6(1; New Zealand sparrowbills. oats, 21s to 22s per 8201bs; New Zealand Danish oats, none offering; New Zealand beaus, 34s 6d to 35s fid per 5041b5. TALLOW. There have been four public .auctions during tho post three weeks, and at these there has been an increasingly good demand for tho low and medium grades, with the result that prices for these dc-■oripti-ns have advanced Is to Is 6d per owt, Fine beef and mutton has met a tail--inquiry, at about late rates.- Tallow generally is in short supply, aud__it would appear likely that a good trade at satisfactory prices for some little time is assured. In Australasian, for arrival, business has been somewhat checked by want of offers. Most of the trade done has been in good mixed, which has sold up to 31s 3d per cwt o.'i.L, with further buyers at the price. "No colour’ is in good demand at 31s 6d to 32s fid per cwt c.i.f., according to titre. Values on the spot: —Finest mutton, 38s fid to 395; fair to good, 37s to 3Ss ; edible beef 365; fair-to good, 35s Cd to 36s per cwt. FROZEN MEAT. . For some time after roy last notes oh the subject very heavy supplies of Home killed aud Dutch moats continued to be offered at Smithfleld, for which extremely low rates were accepted, Scotch hill lambs being sold as low as 3.]d per lb, with the result that frozen mutton and lambparticularly the latter—proved almost unsaleable. Values in the case of New Zealand mutton—which is in short supply—have been fairly well maintained, bnt lamb marked a decline of Id to id per lb, With some falling off recently in supplies of Homo killed and Dutch meats, there has been rather more inquiry for frozen sorts, and at the time of writing there is a firmer tone, and a fair prospect of better prices. The position as regards beef Has been most unsatisfactory, supplies of River Plate chilled having b»ea much in excess of trade requirements, and censoquently prices have ruled, and continue to rule, at a fiery.low level; forequarters for a time bfeiug sold at as, low. as-TRI per lb There has been, little, it anj, demano for frozen descriptions, and large stocks have accumulated. For the few quarters sold sellers have had to accept say Id to Jd per lb less money. Current Smitlifield ' rates Scotch and English sheep. skl to fild; Canterbury, S|d to 4Jd; North Island, 3RHo 3_id; Australian, 23d to 3)d; River Plate, 2Jd to New Zealand ewes, 3d to 3Jd; Canterbury lamb. 4|d to s>d ; North Island lamb, 4Jd to sd; Australian lamb, 4d to 4|d; River Plato lamb, 3J to 4id; Scotch and English lamb, s)d to -Sid; Elver Plate chilled beef, hindquarters, 3d to 3|d; River Plate chilled beef, forequarters, IJd to 2d- River Plate frozen beef, hindquarters 2)d to 3d; Eii er Plate frozen beef, foreaua-terr, 2d to 2Jd; Australian frozen beef, hindquarters, 2‘ld to 3d; Australian frozen beef, forequarters, 2d to Sid; New Zealand'frozen beef, hindquarters, 3d to 3Jd; New Zealand frozen beef, forequarters, 2)(1 -to 2]d. COCKSFOOT. There has been a fair demand for Continental need at advancing prices. The stock on tho "spot” is practically exhausted, and there have been no transactions in Now Zfealar.d'seed rcr forward shipment. It is anticipated that owing to the rocent drought there will be an active demand for all grasses during the comin-T spring, and very high prices are expected to rule here. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Comnany. Limited, quote Danish seed, 90 per cent, purity. 75s per cwt. ex warehouse, , ■ ' \ AMAZING GHOST STOBV ALLEGED HAUNTED HOUSE LONDON SUBURB. An amazing ghost story was told at tho Wandsworth ‘ County Court a tow weeks ago, before Judge Harington, when Thomas Henry .Wrensted, of (jueen Victoria street, sued William Atkinson, ot Borough road, S.E., for LTO 13s 4d, rent duo in respect of a house in Cathles road, Balham. . Mr Hanne, solicitor for the plaintifl, said that a very curious .defence had been put in, the defendant objecting to pay rent for the premises because, he said, the, house was haunted hy an old grey-headed man. The defendant left the house and declined to pay after taking the premises for twelve months. The Judge, to Mrs Atkinson: Was this old gentleman very disturbing to you? We lived there. some months,. and it was a matter of impossibility to remain there. Mr Hanne read a letter from Mrs Atkinson to the plaintiff in which the former stated that it .was "impossible to live in this house; it is being haunted hy an old, grey-headed man. Some noises we - have heard,” , continuedthe letter, “give us no rest. We have tried all the rooms to sleep in, hut they are all alike. Big bangs comes, at the head of tho bedstead and wake ns up. One of my daughters had her face slapped. One night some- brass rails were flung across , the room. ‘ There' are. . terrible hangs at the Read of' the bed and pattering up and downstairs. Our.dog whines and it is very restless, and last week'he was let loose; the hack door was opened and the dog admitted to the house,- hy .whom’ we do not know. Our nerves are all unstrung, and- we cannot Mive-iu. it any longer. Our experiences have been something dreadful. The shadows of a man and a woman have been seen by more than one person."

The Judge: Has the landlord; investigated all these apparitions? ■ Mr Hanne: He says that he has never heard about these mysterious noises and appearances before. \ The judge said that a plea of ghosts could not he a, successful reason for : not paying the rent, and gave a., verdict against the defendant.